It was estimated that the Lunar New Year would cause a global travel boost leading up to the holiday; roughly three billion trips! Considered one of the most important holidays in China, many people travel to be with family – filling planes and trains to go back to their hometown to reunite with loved ones. It’s tradition, that on the eve of the first day of the holiday families get together for a meal, exchange red envelopes of money and set off fireworks at midnight. If you’re in Beijing, you’ll notice the streets are decorated with lanterns and other emblems of the New Year. This year is The Year of the Pig according to the Chinese Zodiac.

Last week’s big story was the polar vortex that affected parts of Canada and the US. Places such as Chicago, saw record-breaking lows, causing large sections of Lake Michigan to freeze. Residents saw the lake bubbling like a cauldron in the deep freeze, giving off what one resident described as “sea smoke.” While people were told to stay indoors during the cold snap, some spectacular photos of the lake have emerged.

While many places in North America suffered through the polar vortex last week, Australia has been having the opposite problem. The Southern Hemisphere nation just experienced the hottest January on record and the high temperatures continue into February. This is causing wildfires in the southern regions and flooding in the tropical north. Wildlife is suffering, and infrastructure can’t keep up in the extreme heat. If you’re planning a trip Down Under, check conditions before you leave.

There’s a new sheriff in town at Point Reyes National Seashore, and they come in the form of an elephant seal. Due to the US government shutdown, Drakes Beach is now occupied by up to 60 adult seals, plus 35 newborn pups. Even though the shutdown has ended, staff are reluctant to evict the elephant seals as they’re feed new offspring, so the beach remains closed to humans for now. You can, however, view the seals from the road and parking lot. Normally staff discourage seals from coming onto the beach using tarps.

Hamilton, Ontario, a city widely known for its steel industry, is now enjoying a booming tourism industry. Due to the city’s growing popularity, there are three new hotels planned. This boost comes after years of popular events being hosted in the city, such as Pan Am soccer, the Canadian Open, the country music awards and more. The proposed developments are located in three different areas of the city, including the mountain and downtown. With the city’s popular CFL team, The Hamilton Tiger-Cats, bidding on hosting the Grey Cup in the next few years, some are hoping these will be completed by then.

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